Divider strip



Nov. 22, 1932. P GALASSI DIVIDER STRIP Filed Dec. 11, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 1119 ATTORNEY WMW Nov. 22, 1932. GALASS!1,888,916

DIVIDER STRIP Fi1 ed Dec. 11. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i hall 75 INVENTORBY his ATTORN Y Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PASQUALE GALASSI,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIVIDER STRIP Application filed December This invention relates toimprovements in the construction of terrazzo and similar floors and moreparticularly refers to a new I type of dividing strip adapted for use incon- 5315 nection with such floors.

Terrazzo, granolithic and similar floors generally comprise a lower orfoundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitablematerial and an upper or m finishing layer generally consisting of amiX- ture of marble chips and cement, providing a good durable surface,and afiording the possibility of producing design and color effects of apractically unlimited variety. In the construction of this type offloors, the foundation layer is first laid and allowed to harden to asuflicient degree of consistency. Dividing strips are then placed on orthrough the foundation layer, so as to outline a predetermined design,and the upper layer is then laid in position. As a result, the floorwhich is ground and polished after the upper layer has become hard willappear as a com bination of panels together forming the fioor design,said panels being separated from one another by the dividing strips.

The strips employed are generally made of relatively soft metal such asbrass for instance, but are also at times made of different materialsaccording to the ornamental requirements of the design and color schemeto be produced.

As a rule however, the metal employed is apt to be considerably moreexpensive than steel, and therefore it is desirable to substitute steelor some other inexpensive material for the part of the strip which isembedded into the floor material and which is not likely to show evenafter the floor has been subjected to considerable Wear.

A divider strip for use in terrazzo floors should answer severalrequirements dictated by the exigencies of practical use. Thus the stripshould be possessed of sufficient strength to stand rough handling andshould at all times preserve its correct alignment. Furthermore, thestrip should preferably be provided with meansfor anchoring it inposition and also with positioning means for'determining the eXact depthat which the strip 11, 1931. Serial No. 580,511.

is to be inserted in the lower layer of the floor. In many cases theanchoring and positioning functions may be centered in a single memberor set of members.

Another desirable feature of this type of strip is for it to make itpossible to use upper sections of, various thicknesses in combinationwith a lower section which may be standardized in design andconstruction and Which may therefore be made by mass production .9methods.

In another application entitled Flanged strips for terrazzo floors,Serial No. 486,165 copending herewith, I have described a bimetallicstrip in which the lower section is 5 connected to the upper section bymeans of upwardly projecting tongues integral with the lower .section,said tongues being inserted through corresponding openings provided inthe upper section and being bent to form hook Z9; shaped retainingmembers permanently connecting the two sections to each other.

In another patent application copending herewith entitled Bimetallicflanged dividing strips, I have described and claimed strips of asomewhat similar character'in which the upwardly directed tongues areformed in the lower section by-striking off and bending upwardlyportions of a longitudinal flange laterally extending from the bodythereof.

In all the strips illustrated in the drawings pertaining to the aboveentitled applications, the upper section is formed with a series oflongitudinally spaced slots near its lower or inner edge, said slotsbeing relatively narrow in the vertical sense and being long enough inthe longitudinal sense to receive the tongues inserted therethrough.

Said .slots should of course be as close as possible to the lower orinner edge of the upper section because of the necessity of leaving asmuch solid metal as possible above the slots to provide for theconsiderable wear occurring in the floor during prolonged periods ofservice. At the same time I have found that in practice it is notpossible to punch slotted holes through the upper sec-- tion, unlessthey are sufliciently spaced from the lower or inner edge thereof toprevent ably more than buckling of the metal. Another practicallimitation to the size of the holes is due to the fact that the width ofthe slots must in every case be not less than the thickness of themetal. This means for instance, that if the upper section is 4; thewidth of the slots cannot be less than A, and the distance of the slotsfrom the lower or inner edge should also be not less than saiddimensions being preferin each case. This means that fully 5% 'of thewidth of the upper section may be lost to use as part of the wearingsurface of the floor.

I also have found that such relatively nar row slots as are required bythe constructions described in the two above entitled applications,entail the use of relatively delicate punches and dies which are costlyboth to produce and to maintain.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved type of bimetallic strip in which the advantages pertaining tothe strips described in the said two applications will be retained whileboth the method of manufacture and the wearing qualities of the stripwill be improved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bimetallic floor stripof a novel and in1- proved design, comprising an upper and a lowersection permanently connected to each other, in which the upper sectionis provided with notches along its lower or inner edge, said notchesforming together with the upper edge of the lower section, fairly wideand elongated openings allowing the plastic material composing the upperlayer of the floor to penetrate across the strip and to becomeintimately bound therewith and thereby.

A further object is to provide a floor strip of the character specifiedcomprising an upper and a lower section permanently connected to eachother, said lower section being formed with flanged members laterallyprojecting from the body thereof, said strip being designed so as torequire a minimum amount of labor and material for its production.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the two sections composinga strip constituting one of the embodiments of my invention, said twosections being shown in the initial stage of manufacture;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in elevation of said two sections after thefirst step in the assembling operation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the completed strip Fig.5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a metal strip adapted to form analternative type of lower section suitable for use in place of the lowersection shown in the preceding figures, said figure illustrating themanner of slitting the strip at its upper edge and the manner of bendingthe sections thereof isolated by the slitting operation; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip comprising anupper section similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and of lowersection, produced in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of two sections composing astrip constituting a still different embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a completed stripobtained by assembling the sect-ions shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of another stripillustrating another alternative form of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective of another strip embodyingsome of the features of my invention in which the anchoring means areprovided independently of the positioning means; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a terrazzo floorshowing a divider strip of the type shown in Fig. 8, in position.

The main characteristic of the strip forming the subject of thisinvention resides in the fact that instead of being provided with alongitudinal series of slotted openings in proximity of its lower orinner edge, the upper section is provided along said edge with alongitudinal series of notches, the outline of which is such as topermit of the tongues formed integral with the lower section permanentlyconnecting the two sections to each other merely by bending said tonguesover and about portions of the edges of said notches.

The provision of notches in the place of slotted openings permits ofproviding binding edges of a sufficient length adapted to interlock withthe tongues projecting from the lower section, even though the upperedge of said notches is at a distance from the upper edge of the uppersection greater than the distance separating the slots from said upperedge in an upper section having the same width. The provision of notcheshas also the advantage that punches and dies of a more substantialnature can be used, less likely to break or to become damaged in use andentailing less expense for their maintenance.

Furthermore, by using notches instead of openings less bendingoperations will be required for the production of the retaining tonguesin the lower section, and therefore tools of much simpler and lesscostly nature will be required. The strip illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.comprises a lower section 20 and an upper section 21, said upper sectionhaving an uninterrupted upper edge 22. The lower or inner edge of theupper section is notched at longitudinally spaced intervals to formdove-tailed notches 23 and dove-tailed tenons 24 interveningtherebetween, said notches and tenons being preferably symmetrical withone another, so as to make it pos sible to produce two identical uppersections by longitudinally cutting along a Zig-zag line a blank stripthe width of which is twice the distance a separating the bottom of thenotches from the upper edge 22 plus the distance I) separating thebottom of the notches from the lower or inner edge 25 of the uppersection.

The upper or inner edge 26 of the lower section is vertically slit atlongitudinally spaced intervals in correspondence of a line passingthrough the center of each notch 23, as shown at 27 in 1, the depth ofthe slits thus produced substantially corresponding to the depth Z) ofthe notches. Said lower section is further slit in a longitudinal sensefrom and at each side of the lower end of slits 27, a distancesubstantially corresponding to one-half the length 0 of the mouth ofeach notch 23, as shown at 2829, so as to define longitudinally directedtongues such as Fig-31 having their ends meeting along slits 2 The nextstep in the production of the strip is the bending of tongues 30-31 atright angles to the body of the lower section along inclined bendinglines such as indicated in dotted lines at 3233, corresponding to theinclined end edges 32'33 of notches 23. This operation will result inthe production of a longitudinal series of lugs such as shown at 30-31in Fig. 2, laterally extending from the body of the lower section, eachset of lugs 3031 registering with and being insertable through one ofthe notches 23 of the upper section.

The upper section can therefore be inserted in position with its notchesover lugs 3031' so that its lower or inner edge portion will abutagainst the upper or inner edge portion of the lower section as shown inFigs. 2, 3.

Lugs 30 31 are next bent'fiat against the side surface of upper section21, and if the end edges3233 of the notches are inclined at forty-fivedegrees as shown, said lugs will be bent downwardly in a verticaldirection as shown in Fig. 4. Their outer ends are then bent at rightangles to the body of the strip so as to form a longitudinal series offlanged members 3031 extending laterally of the body of the strip aboutmidway between the upper edge 22 and the lower edge 34.

It will be seen that by virtue of this con struction the flanged members30-31 will efliciently perform both the function of positioning andanchoring means while at the of the upper section, said openingpermitting the plastic material composing the upper layer of the floorto pass therethrough and to securely interlock with the strip. Asomewhat similar strip may be produced such as illustrated in Fig. 6 bysimplifying the operations connected with the production of the lowersection and the assembling of the two sections.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 21 represents the upper section formed withdove-tailed notches 23 corresponding to notches 23 of Figs. 1 to 4,along its lower or inner edge 25. 35 designates the lower sectionconnected thereto, the connection being obtained by vertically slittingthe upper or inner edge 36 of the lower section at points correspondingto the lower ends of side edges 3233 of the notches, that is, at pointscorresponding to the extreme ends of the mouth of each notch 23/, ducedreach a depth about equivalent to the depth 6 of the notches. Theportion 39 intervening between slits 37-38 of each set is then bentoutwardly at right angles to the body 35 along line 39 substantiallyparallel to the edges 3640 of said lower section, so as to formlaterally extending lugs '41. The portions of the body of the lowersection adjoining and separated from portion 39 by slits 3738'are bentat right angles to the body of the lower section along inclined linesshown in dotted lines at 3233, corresponding to the inclination of theend edges 3233 of thenotches. This will result in the formation oftriangular wings or lips 4243, registering with the end edges of andinsertable through notches 23". After insertion through said notches,said wings are bent flat against the side surface of the upper sectionas clearly shown in Fig. 6 and will securely connect the two sections toeach other.

In practice, the production of slits 37-38 and the bending of lugs 41and wings 42-43 at right angles to the body of the lower sec tion can beeffected in asingle operation, so that the entire strip can be'producedand assembled in three operations. If the lower section is formed with acontinuous laterally extending longitudinal flange, a much more rigidstructure is obtained, so that it becomes possible to further economizein the amount ofmaterial employed by using metal of a lighter gauge.

A strip of this character is shown in Figs. 7, 8 where 44 designates theupper section provided like in the previous cases with a longitudinalseries of dove-tailed notches 45 along its lower or inner edge. Thelower section consists of an originally fiat strip lonas shown at 3738.The slits thus prothe tongues 4950 of each set substantially correspondsto the length cl of the mouth of notches 45, while the distance betweenthe outer edges of tongues 495O of each set substantially corresponds tothe length 6 of the bottom of notches 45. The height of said tonguessubstantially corresponds to the depth f of the notches 45.

As a result when the upper section 44 is placed in position with itslower edge 49 resting on top of flange 48 and its side surface abuttingagainst tongues 4950, 49'50, etc., said tongues can be bent over andabout end edges 51, 52 of notches 45 in the manner explained inconnection with wings 42, 43 of Figs. 5, 6, so as to form wings 53, 54,bent flat against the side surface of the upper section and securelyjoining the two sections to each other. It will be seen that by virtueof this construction, the upper section will form together with theupper or inner edge of the lower section a longitudinal series ofopenings 45, while the flange 48 will be formed with a longitudinalseries of openings 55 in correspondence of tongues 49-50, 49'50 etc.

It is within the scope of my invention to make the notches along thelower or inner edge of the upper section with an outline different fromthe dove-tailed outline previously described, the object being of courseto provide notches through which the tongues upwardly projecting fromthe lower section can be easily inserted and with which said tongues canbe caused to interlock by the performance of comparatively simplebending operations. For instance, in Fig. 9, I illustrate a stripcomprising an upper section 56, and a lower section 57, said lowersection being bent along a longitudinal line at 58 to form a body 59 anda continuous longitudinal flange 60, laterally extending therefrom.

Like in the previous case, the lower section is formed with alongitudinal series of sets of upwardly extending tongues obtained bypunching the flange as shown at 61, 62, and offsetting the thus isolatedportions there of so that they will be substantially flush with the body59. The upper section is provided with l shaped notches 63, each notchbeing thus defined at each end by inwardly extending lugs such as 6465,spaced to register with the tongues upwardly projecting from the lowersection. The upper portion of said notch can therefore be bent forwardlyso as to be insertable through the bars of the notches above lugs 6465and the tip end thereof can then be bent downwardly against the sidesurface of the upper section so as to form retaining lips 66-67.

It is also possible to connect the two sections to each other in wayssimilar to those described without forming flanged members in the lowersection. For instance, in Fig. 10, 1 illustrate a strip in which asubstantially fiat upper section 68 is permanently connected to asubstantially flat lower section 69 by providing the upper section witha series of longitudinally spaced dove-tailed notches 70 along its loweror inner edge 71 and by forming the lower section with upwardlyextending tongues adapted to register with the ends of said notches andto be bent over the inclined end edges thereof so as to form retainingwings 7273 in the manner explained in connection with the strip of Figs.7-8.

The resulting strip is somewhat more flexible than the strips previouslydescribed and can be used to advantage for the formation of curveddesigns. At the same time since it is desirable to provide a strip withmeans for anchorin it in position, the lower section is formed with alongitudinal series of open top cup members 74 struck off and of setfrom the body thereof. The positioning function can be performed by thelower edge 71 of the upper section.

A strip of either the type shown in Fig. 6 or the type shown in Figs. 7,8, is shown in position in Fig. 11, where 75 designates the floorfoundation, 76 designates the lower layer of a terrazzo floor and 77designates the upper layer. From said figure it will be observed thatthe flange 7 8 laterally projecting from the body of the strip acts aspositioning means for the strip determining the depth at which saidstrip is to be inserted through the lower layer, and also acts asanchoring means securely retaining the strip in position.

The constructional details of my improved strip may vary from thoseshown without departing from the inventive idea; the drawings willtherefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes onlyand not in a. limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carrymy invention into practice in all those ways and manners which mayenter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgenotched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of theedges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the endsthereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent oversaid inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting saidsections to each other.

2. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgenotched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of theedges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the endsthereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent oversaid inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting saidsections to each other, said lower section also having flangedpositioning means laterally extending from the body thereof.

3. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgenotched at longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of theedges of the notches thus produced extending inwardly of the endsthereof, the lower section having upwardly extending tongues bent oversaid inwardly directed end edge portions, permanently connecting saidsections to each, said lower section also having a continuouslongitudinal flange laterally extending from the body thereof.

4. A divider strip forterrazzo orlikefl'oors, comprising upper and lowerlongitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edge notchedat longitudinally spaced intervals, at least a portion of the edges ofthe notches thus produced extending inwardly of the ends thereof, thelower section having a continuous longitudinal flange laterallyextending from the body thereof, said flange being punched atlongitudinally spaced intervals to form tongues upwardly extendingtherefrom, said tongues being bent over said inwardly directed end edgeportions, permanently connecting said sections to each other.

5. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgeformed with dovetailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, thelower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edgesof said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other.

6. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgeformed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, thelower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edgesof said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other,said lower section also having flanged positioning means laterallyextending from the body thereof.

7. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgeformed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, thelower section having upwardly extending tongues bent over the end edgesof said notches, permanently connecting said sections to each other,said lower section also having a continuous longitudinal flangelaterally extending from the body thereof.

8. A divider strip for terrazzo or like floors, comprising upper andlower longitudinal sections, the upper section having its inner edgeformed with dove-tailed notches at longitudinally spaced intervals, thelower section having a continuous longitudinal flange laterallyextending from the body thereof, said flange being punched atlongitudinally spaced intervals to form tongues upwardly extendingtherefrom, said tongues being bent over the end edges of said notches,permanently connecting said two

